Stripers, Blues, Fluke, Scup - They're All Here!

• Lockers and bait wells secured, the last line slipped from the dock cleat. This was going to be a two-tide day and knowing that, the menu was varied. All hands were busy on deck rigging rods and terminal gear–something normally done in advance–but this was a last minute “grin and grab” trip.
• From pre-dawn to well after sunset, tides hit just right. Flood in the early morning and evening and ebb in the middle making for a multi-specie trip. Nets were cast upon departing, partially filled, and then hauled, carefully separating the menhaden from the mesh.
• A half a tote of fresh bunker and a short bucket of eels covered the bass and blues with some well-worn plugs for top water action should that occur. Squid was on board for a little mid-day porgy and fluke action–sea bass if the “hump” was right–and a few sandworms should trolling a tube fancy someone.
• Heading straight for a not-to-distant reef to live line bunker was the plan. Straight to the bottom the first one went before the nervous darting action began. Then it surged toward the top in an effort to escape the vacuum of a “cow” bass. Too late as the rod dipped to the water line and below. The hook was set once, twice, three times and the fight was on. “Fish on” and now both rods were in play.
• Within an hour, bluefish surfaced and the bass bite suddenly stopped. A massive feeding frenzy was underway as bunker broke the surface fleeing from the jaws of charging blues. Muscles strained while scales flew and mouthfuls of partially digested fish were coughed up. There was a flurry of activity during which blues fought each other for any lure cast in their direction.
• Battle worn anglers looked at each almost afraid to ask “What's next?” Before anything else was said, bluefish outfits were exchanged for fluke'n gear. Not much action at the top of the tide but after a little scup action, a few keeper fluke were put in the box when the tide flipped.
• As daylight melted, we thought eels were going to be the ticket. It turned out that more bass were attracted to bucktails and porgy's. Although a few linesiders took snakes, most were returned to the holding tank. On the way in though, several smaller stripers took a liking to a T/W in shallow water especially, when doused with scent. And that's the way it was, this late spring fishing trip.
• On the Water
• A great Father's Day weekend, except for short end of the day thunderstorms, saw fishermen out on the grounds. Even after brief bouts with the weather, schools of bluefish blitzed the surface as the tide began to flood. Cool weather morphed into a very comfortable day before yielding to tropical conditions. It was definitely a day to be on the water.
• Striped bass was the word as anglers hit the FLW trail looking for a pair of slot limit, keep-alive fish to capture the $10,000 purse plus any contingency bonuses. Fishing was hot as more than 50 percent of teams weighed in 863 pounds, 10 ounces of fish. Team For Net (Michael Monteforte) nailed first place with 36 pounds, 9 ounces, Team Porgy Pine (David Roessler) captured second with 34 pounds, 11 ounces, and High Hook (John Tarutis) took third with 33 pounds, 12 ounces. Last year's Connecticut winner, Team Tara Ann (Paul Santa Barbara) came in 12th (26 pounds, 14 ounces) and Team Keephers last year's overall FLW champions (Matthew Fleisher) logged 16th (24 pounds, 12 ounces).
• Late spring striper fishing has been excellent throughout the Sound especially since 40-inch-plus fish entered. Tony Prifitera of Guilford caught his 42-inch linesider trolling an umbrella rig at Six Mile Reef at the beginning of the flood. Most popular reefs and shoals have been productive while anglers fishing from shore also had good catches both on bait and a variety of artificials. Tidal rivers remain good light action spots many of which are now seeing more schools of baitfish.
• Twelve to fourteen pound Blues are taking chunks and jigs at Southwest, Kimberly and Faulkners with bass firing up in the early AM and later in the evening. Charles Reef is showing a mix while Goose/Duck Islands and Kelsey breakwater has had some tog action. Large porgies are showing up around Faulkners, Charles and Southwest. Good catches of fluke have been occurring in thirty feet of water or less during both tides while snappers along with blue crabs have shown in the tidal creeks. There have been great tides for the Madison/Guilford clammers hindered only by some heavy downpours. (Captain Morgan, Shore Publishing).